The Handmaid to Private Devotion, Part 21 · Tuesday
Tuesday's Deuotion, being the third day from the Creation.
The Father worketh. Ioh. 5. 17. The worke of Creation.
GOd said againe, Let the waters vnderunder the Heauen bee gathered▪ into one place, and let the dry land appeare: and it was so. Gen. 1. 9.
And God called the dry land earth; and he called the gathering together of the waters Seas: and God saw that it was good, v. 10.
Then God said, Let the earth bud forth the bud of the herbe that seedeth seede the fruitfull tree, which beareth fruit according to his kinde, which hath his seede in it selfe vponupon the earth: and it was so. ver. 11.
And the earth brought forth the bud of the herbe, that seedeth seede according to his kind; also the tree that beareth fruit, which hath his seede in it selfe according to his kinde: and God saw that it was good. ver. 12.
So the Euening and the Morning were the third day, ver. 13.
And I worke. Ioh. 5. 17. The worke of Redemption.
WHo is this that commeth from Edom, with red garments from Bozrah? He is glorious in his apparell, and walketh in his great strength; I speake in righteousnesse, and am mighty to saue. Isa. 63. 1.
I hauehave troden the Wine-presse alone, & of all people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and tread them vnderunder foot in my wrath, and their bloud shall bee sprinkled vponupon my garments, and I will staine all my rayment. ver. 3.
And two dayes after followed the Feast of the Passeouer, and of vnleauened bread: and the high Priests and Scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death. Mar. 14. 1.
But they said, Not on the feast day, least there bee a tumult among the people. ver. 2.
And when he was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the Leper, as he sate at Table, there came a woman, hauing a box of Ointment of Spikenard, very costly, and shee brake the Box and powred it on his head, ver. 3.
For thine instruction meditate
In the Morning, vponupon the worke of Creation.
In the Euening, vponupon the worke of Redemption.
For thy comfort apply the
Vse of the one.
Benefit of the other.
For thy correction reproue thy
Abuse of the one.
Vnthankfulnesse for the other.
Quicken
Thy thankesgiuing by the Hymne.
Thine obedience by the admonition.
Thy zeale and deuotion by the prayer ensuing.
The Hymne for Tuesday-morning.
SIng vntounto the Lord a new song; sing cheerefully with a loud voice, Psal. 33. 3.
For the Word of the Lord is true, and all his workes are faithfull, ver. 4.
He loueth righteousnesse and iudgement; all the earth is full of the goodnesse of the Lord, ver. 5.
Hee gathereth the waters of the Sea together, as it were vponupon an heape, and layeth vp the deepe, as in a Treasure-house, ver. 7.
Let the Earth feare the Lord; stand in awe of him all yee that dwell in the world, ver. 8.
For hee spake and it was done; hee commanded, and it stood fast, ver. 9.
He so layed the Foundations, that it should not moue at any time, Psal. 104. 5.
He watereth the hills from aboue; the earth is filled with the fruits of his workes, ver. 3.
Hee bringeth forth grasse for the Cattle, and greene herbes for the vse of men, ver. 14.
That he may bring food out of the Earth, and Wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and Oyle to make him a cheerfull countenance, and Bread to strengthen mans heart, ver. 15.
The Trees of the Lord also are full of sap, euen as the Cedars of Lebanon which hee hath planted, ver. 16.
Hee couereth the Heauens with Clouds, and prepareth raine for the earth, and maketh the grasse to grow vponupon the mountaines, Psal. 147. 8.
Which giueth to the beasts their foode, and to the young Rauens that cry, ver. 9.
Praise the Lord vponupon earth yee Dragons and all deepes, Psal. 148. 7.
Mountaines and all Hills, fruitfull Trees and all Cedars, ver. 9.
EueryEvery day will I giuegive thanks vntounto the Lord, and praise his Name for euer, Psal. 145. 2.
Thou hast giuen me more ioy of heart, then they whose Corn and Wine, and Oyle increased, Psal. 4. 8.
The Admonition for Tuesday morning: being an exhortation to godly sorrow.
THE ANALYSIS.
We must desire & pray for godly sorrow, because it is
1 A speciall duty required in the
Law.
Gospel.
2 The Saints continuall practise.
3 A necessary disposition to make vsus capable of the Gospel.
4 A Sacrifice well pleasing to God.
5 An effect of true conuersion.
6 An efficient cause of many diuine vertues.
7 An assurance of eternall ioy and comfort.
8 The want of it, a fearefull signe of a reprobate sense.
THE TEXTS.
TVrne ye vntounto me with all your heart,1 Gods Commandement. with fasting, weeping and mourning, Ioel 2. 12.
And rent your hearts and not your garments, &c. ver. 13.
And in that day did the Lord God of hosts call to weeping and mourning, and to baldnesse, and girding with Sackcloth, Isa. 22. 12.
Now I reioyce, not that yee were made sorry, but that yee sorrowed to repentance, 2 Cor. 7. 9.
For ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receiue damage in nothing.
Weepe not for me, but weepe for your selues, Luk. 23. 28.
Ye shall weepe and lament, &c. Io. 16. 20.
Howle and lament, &c. Iames 5. 1.
I abhorre my selfe,2 The Saints practise. and repent in dust and ashes, Iob. 42. 6.
I fainted in my mourning; I cause my bed eueryevery night to swimme, and water my couch with my teares, Psal. 6. 6.
I will confesse my wickednesse, and be sorry for my sin Ps. 38. 18.Hezekiah.
Hezekiah humbled himselfe for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Ierusalem, and therefore the wrath of the Lord came not in the dayes of Hezekiah,Manasses. 2 Cro. 33. 12.
And when he was in affliction he besought the Lord his God, & humbled himselfe greatly before the God of his fathers, 2 Cr. 33. 12
And prayed vntounto him, and was intreated of him, ver. 13.
Now when Ezra had prayed,Ezra. and had confessed weeping and casting himselfe downe before the house of God, there assembled vntounto him, out of Israel, a very great congregation of men, and women, and children; for the people wept very sore, Ezr. 10. 1.
And Peter remembred the words which Iesus said vntounto him,Peter. Before the Cocke crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice; and he went out, and wept bitterly, Mat. 26. 75.
Come vntounto me all ye that are heauy laden, 3 A preparation to the Gospell.and I will ease you, Mat. 11. 28.
He hath anointed me to preach the Gospell to the poore, hee hath sent me to heale the broken hearted, Luke 4. 18.
The Sacrifice of God is a contrite spirit; 4 Acceptable to God.a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psal. 51. 17.
Put my teares in thy bottle; are not these things noted in thy booke? Psal. 56. 8.
The Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping, Psal. 6. 8.
Tell Hezekiah, the Captaine of my people, saying; I hauehave heard thy prayer, I hauehave seene thy teares, I will heale thee, 2 Kings 30. 5.
And when they heard these things,5 The effect of true conuersion. they were pricked in their hearts, and said vntounto Peter, Men and Brethren, what shall we doe? Act. 2. 37.
Godly sorrow causeth repentance not to be repented of;6 A cause of many diuine vertues. but worldly sorrow causeth death, 2. Cor. 7. 10.
For behold this selfe same thing that yee sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulnesse it wrought in you, yea what cleering of your selues, yea what indignation, yea what feare, yea what vehement desire, yea what zeale, yea what reuenge, ver. 11.
They that sow in teares, 7 Bringeth ioy and comfort.shall reape in ioy, Psal. 126. 7.
I dwell with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to reuiue the spirit of the humble, and to reuiue the heart of the contrite, Isa. 57. 15.
Ye shall be sorrowfull but your sorrow shall bee turned into ioy; Ioh. 16. 20.
Blessed are they that mourne, for they shall bee comforted, Mat. 5. 4.
Wee hauehave mourned vntounto you,8 The want of it fearefull. and yee hauehave not wept, Luke 7. 32.
And yee are puffed vp, and hauehave not sorrowed, 1 Cor. 5. 2.
Woe bee vntounto thee Corazin, woe vntounto thee Rethsaida, &c. for they, &c. in sack cloth, Mat. 11. 21.
And I gaue her time to repent, and shee would not repent, Reuel. 2. 21.
After thy hard and impenitent heart treasurest vp to thy selfe wrath in the day of wrath, Rom. 2. 3.
THE PRAYER FOR Tuesday morning; composed of
1. Petitions sutable to the worke of the day.
2. Motiues to godly sorrow, agreeable to the precedent exhortation.
O That my head were water, and mine eyes were a spring of teares, that I might weepe day and night, for the deluge of sinne ouerflowing the whole world; but especially, for the inundation therof in this our I…nd. We are ouerwhelmed in this Torrent, and should be drowned, but that the gales of thy Spirit driue it somewhat backe, and thy restraining Grace with the publike discipline of our Lawes and Canons set some bounds to it. What hearts can vent sight enough, what eyes yeeld sufficient teares to bewaile those publike sinnes, vnderunder the burthen whereof the Land sinketh; besides those priuate which lye as heauy on each of vsus in particular? Sinnes of omission, sinnes of commission; sinnes of birth, sinnes of life; sinnes of youth, sinnes of age; sinnes of frailty, sinnes of …ilfulnesse; sinnes of act sinnes of habit and custome; sinnes of secret taint, sinnes of open st…in…; Sinnes of infirmity committed against the power of the Father; sinnes of ignoranc… against the wisdome of the Sonne; and sinnes of malice against the grace of thy holy Spirit. If I should goe about to extenuate my sinne…, euen that would aggrauate them: if to excuse them, my conscience would condemne me. For I must confesse to thy glory, and my owne shame, that by my Originall and Actuall, secret and open, sudden and aduised, ignorant an… …icious sinnes, I hauehave dishonoured thy Name, prophaned thy Word, defaced thine Image, grieued thy▪ Spirit, despighted thy Grace, wounded my owne conscience, stained my good name, scandalized my profession▪ depriued my selfe of the comforts of the Gospell, of the protection of Angells, of the sweet fellowship of thy Spirit, and drawne vponupon m…e many heauy iudgements, and treasured vp wrath against the day of wrath. Yet because I mourne (with Dauid) in my prayers, I weepe bitterly with Peter, I abhorre my selfe in dust and ashes with Iob, I am ashamed and confounded with Ezra, Lord let thy mercy preuaile against thy iustice; my sighs and teares against my sinfull ioyes, and thy Sonnes bloud euen against my crimson sinnes. Lord who on this day madest dry Land, and firme ground to appeare, dry vp my …res with the beames of thy mercy, and giuegive me firme ground of comfort in thy Word. Lord, who on this day createdst all kinde of seedes, sow in my heart the incorruptible seede of thy Word, that I may thereby be regenerated to a liuely hope. Lord, who on this day createdst all kindes of fruitfull Trees, make mee like a good Tree to bring forth good fruit here, that I may hereafter eate of the Tree of Life which is in the middest of the Paradise of God. So be it. Amen.
The close out of Scripture.
GOd, the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, grant mee, according to the riches of his glory, that I may be strengthened by his spirit in the inner man, Ephes. 3. 16. That Christ may dwell in my heart by faith, that I being rooted and grounded in louelove, ver. 17.
May be able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the bredth, and length, and depth, and height, v. 8.
And to know the louelove of Christ which passeth knowledge, that I may bee filled with the fulnesse of God, verse 19.
The Deuotions for Tuesdayes Euening.
THE HYMNE alluding to the worke of God on this day in the Allegory.
OVT of the deepe hauehave I called vntounto thee, O Lord; Lord heare my voice, Psal. 130. 1.
O let thine eares consider wel the voice of my complaint, verse 2.
If thou Lord wilt be extreme to marke what is done amisse, O Lord, who can abide it? ver. 3.
But there is mercy with thee, therefore thou shalt bee feared, verse 4.
I looke for the Lord; my soule doth waite for him; in his word is my trust, verse 5.
My soule flyeth to the Lord before the Morning watch, I say before the Morning watch, verse 6.
I hauehave watched, and am euen as a Sparrow that sitteth alone on the house top▪ Psal. 102. 7.
My heart is smitten down and withered like grasse, so that I forget to eate my bread, verse 4.
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and instructest him in thy Law.
They that sowe in teares, shal reape in ioy, Psal. 126. 7.
Hee that now goeth on his way weeping, and beareth forth good seede, shal doubtlesse come againe with ioy, and bring his sheaues with him, verse. 8.
The righteous shall flourish like a Palme-tree, and shall spread abroad like a Cedar in Lebanon, Psal. 92. 11.
Hee shall be like a tree planted by the Riuer's side, which bringeth forth her fruit in due season, Psal. 1. 3.
Whose leafe shall not fall, and what soeuer hee doth it shall prosper. verse 4.
Such as bee planted in the house of the Lord, shall flourish in the courts of the house of our God, Psal. 92. 12.
They also shall bring forth more fruit in their age, and shal befat and well liking, ver. 13.
THE ADMONITION for Tuesday Euening; being an exhortation to hunger and thirst for righteousnesse; whereunto our Sauiour ascribeth the fourth Beatitude.
THE ANALYSIS.
We must diligently and earnestly seek after the meanes of our saluation because therby—
1 Wee obey God.
2 Wee imitate his Saints.
3 Wee obtain blessings
Temporall.
Spirituall.
1 Fauour.
2 Delight.
3 Peace.
4 Life.
5 Cōtentment.
6 The Kingdom of heauen.
THE TEXTS.
SEek the Lord and his strength, seeke his face euermore,Precepts for seeking the meanes of saluation. Psal. 105. 4.
Labour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that meat which endureth to euerlasting life, Ioh. 6. 27.
Receiue mine instruction, & not siluer; and knowledge rather then fine gold, Prou. 5. 10.
For wisedome is better then precious stones; and all pleasures are not to bee compared vntounto her, verse 11.
Follow after louelove, and couet spirituall things, 1. Cor. 14. 1.
Follow peace with all men and holinesse, without which no man shall see the Lord; Heb. 12. 14.
Set your affections on things which are aboue, Examples.and not on things which are in the earth, Col. 3. 2.
My soule breaketh out for the very feruent desire that it hath alway to thy iudgements, Psal. 119. 26.
My soule is a thirst, Dauid.for God, euen for the liuing God, Psal. 42. 1, 2.
One thing is needfull,Mary. & Mary hath chosen that good part which shal not be taken away from her, Luke 10. 41.
From the time of Iohn Baptist, The bearers of Iohn Baptist.hitherto the Kingdome of heauen hath suffered viclence, and the violent take it by force, Math. 1. 12.
Length of dayes is in her right hand,Promises of life. and in her left hand riches and glory, Prou. 3. 16.
Seeke yee first the Kingdome of God,All things needfull. and his righteousnesse, and all other things shall be added vntounto you Mat. 6. 33.
Godlinesse is profitable vntounto all things, hauing promise of the life that now is, and that which is to come, 1. Tim. 4. 8.
If from thence thou seeke the Lord, Gods fauour.thou shalt finde him. Deut. 4. 29.
Her wayes are the wayes as pleasure. Delight. Peace.and all her paths are peace, Pro. 3. 17.
She is a Tree of life to them that lay hold vponupon her;Life. and happy is eueryevery one that reteineth her, verse 18.
Your heart shall liue that seeke good,Blessed content. Psal. 69. 33.
Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousnesse:The kingdome of heauen. for they shall be satisfied, Mat. 5. 6.
The Kingdome of Heauen is like to a Merchant man that seeketh good pearles, Mat. 3. 45.
Who hauing found a Pearle of great price, went and fold all that he had, and bought it, verse 46.
The Prayer for Tuesday Euening: composed of
Petitions sutable to the the sufferings of Christ on this day.
Motiues to seeke after the meanes of our saluation, agreeable to the precedent exhortation.
BLessed Redeemer, who trodest the wine-presse of thy father's wrath alone, reconcile mee to thy Father, and of a child of wrath make mee a child of grace, and sonne of desires. Thou who trodest the wine-presse alone, no Arch-angell, or Angel, or any creature in heauen or in earth, being ioyned with thee in that worke. GiueGive mee a taste of the new wine of thy Gospel, to cheere vp and reuiue my drooping spirits, and comfort my heauy and sorrowfull heart. Thou which camest with thy garments red from Bozra; yea, as red as bloud. Cloath mee with thy red garment died in thine owne bloud. Couer my nakednesse, deformities, wounds, and sores from the sight of thy Father. Thy garment is no narrow nor scanty garment; it is large enough to couer thee, and all thine Elect. It is the wedding garment, without which none shall euer be admitted into the Kings Supper, but bee bound hand and foot, and cast into outward darknesse; where shall bee weeping, and gnashing of teeth. And this doome we all deserued; for wee were borne naked and voide of all good, and we lay a long time wallowing in our owne bloud and filth, and no eye pittied vsus, till it pleased thee of meere louelove and compassion to take vponupon thee a nature of infirmities, to cure all the infirmities of our nature, and to cloath thy selfe with flesh, that thou mightest beare off our blowes, and receiue the stroakes of diuine iustice that wee should hauehave endured, and deadded them in thine owne body. O what shall I returne vntounto thee, by way of thankefull acknowledgement of such thy louelove? I can render thee nothing but that which thou hast giuen me. I can render thee nothing that is not thy due before. I can render thee nothing but that which thou puttest into my heart to render it to thee. Wherefore I hūbly beseech thee, by thy grace to enflame my heart with thy louelove, to incite mee to perpetuall praise & thanksgiuing: to kindle in me an euerlasting desire to approue my self vntounto thee, & more and more tie thy louelove vntounto me. O let nothing be so precious to me as thy fauour, nothing so fearfull as thy displeasure; nothing so hatefull as sin; nothing so desirable as thy grace. Let me not now like a little child run in the dirt, & soile my cloathes, and take many a fal in pursuite of a Butter-fly, or a bubble of Sope appearing glorious in the aire, but suddenly vanishing to nothing. Let mee not be so foolish as to lay the foundation of my happinesse in sinking sands, or goe about to chase a vanishing shadow. Let me enter into a serious consideration of the vanitie of the world, and the deceitfulnesse of riches, and shame of pleasures, and folly of sports, and leuity of honours, and danger of greatnesse, and account of all. Perswade mee by thy Spirit out of thy Word that I hauehave heere no abiding Citie, but seeke for one hereafter. That I am a stranger and pilgrim here vponupon earth; and therefore howsoeuer I hauehave heretofore mis-spent my time, and mis-placed my affections, and spilt my labours, and lost my selfe in following earthly vanities; yet let me now take the right way to true contentment. Let all my trauailes be towards heauen, all my trade for spiritual merchandise, all my labour for the meate that perisheth not, all my searching for the pearle of the Gospell, all my seeking for the Kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof. Let mee desire temporall blessings onelyonly for spirituall ends; wealth, that I may he rich in good workes; preferment, to aduance the honour of the Gospell; health & strength, the better to enable mee to doe thee seruice; length of dayes, that I may praise thee in the Land of the liuing. Lord, whose life was sought this day to destroy it, seeke thou mine to saue it. Lord who this day w…rt anointed to thy death and buriall, anoint me with thy Spirit to eternall life. Saue mee from the hands of all mine enemies, that I may serue thee without feare, in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life. Guard mee by thy prouidence, that securely reposing my soule on thy mercy for my absolution from sinne, and my bodie on thy power for deliuerance from all dangers, I may so by rest and sleepe refresh and strengthen both, that I may rise the next morning more cheerefully to trauaile in the wayes of thy lawes, and workes of thy commandements. So be it. Amen.
The close out of Scripture.
VntoUnto him that is able to doe exceeding aboundantly, aboue all that I aske or thinke, according to the power that worketh in me, be glory in the Church, by Christ Iesus, throughout all ages, world without end, Ephes. 3. 20, 21.